Tag Archives: Jaipur Literature Festival

Happy 2019! Here comes the season when Rajasthan becomes a canvas of colours and merry day and night! It’s that time of the year when the land of Maharajas gives you an opportunity to live through the best celebrations of life, opulence, and chivalry through dance, music, colours, lights and food! Whenever a person thinks about Rajasthan, the first thing that comes to mind is the lively culture, courteous hospitality, soul-stirring music & dance, and royal heritage! You’re in a mood to drink in the vibrant galore of festivities in Rajasthan and Rajasthan Tourism Beat is ready with the first list of the festivals of 2019! Come, witness or take part in some of the most exciting, and amazing festivals of the state. Come; live through the best festival experience in Rajasthan.

Bikaner Camel Festival
12-13 January 2019

A vibrant event in the desert land of Bikaner, Camel Festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture Rajasthan every year. In the chilling winter of desert, Camel Festival fills the warmth with cultural evenings, local sports, art and craft fair and business of livestock. Watching decorated camels and men in attractive turbans offers an interesting frame to the photography enthusiasts.

Lohri
13th January 2019

Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year. The festival is celebrated mark the harvest season’s bliss. This is particularly a happy occasion for the couples from Sikh community, who would sing and dance around the campfire and share delicious delicacies made from jaggery and sesame.

Makar Sankranti
14th January 2019

Makar Sankranti festival coincides with the beginning of the sun’s northward journey, and falls on January 14 according to the solar calendar. Kite festival is the biggest attraction of Makar Sankranti in the pink city of Rajasthan. In Jaipur, this festival is a wonderful spectacle as kites take to the sky all across the state. While one can enjoy colourful kites in a variety of shapes and sizes, the celebration takes a mesmeric turn after sunset. Thousands of lanterns and firecrackers fill the sky with the light of joy on this festival. The Jal Mahal ki paal in Jaipur also hosts an international level Kite flying competition, which sees experts from across the world taking participation.

Jaipur Literature Festival
24th – 28th January 2019

As the largest FREE literary festival on earth, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival brings together some of the greatest thinkers and writers from across South Asia and the world. From Nobel laureates to local language writers, Man Booker prize winners to debut novelists, every January the most remarkable, witty, sensitive and brilliant collection of people thong the Jaipur Literature Festival for not just literary sessions but for fashion update too, yeah you read it right!

The festival list sparkles with- India’s most popular authors with two New York Times bestselling crime thrillers written along with James Patterson under his belt among other numerous books; the irrepressible, fearless and delightfully irreverent Shobhaa De who comments extensively on India’s socio-cultural-political contours and is author of 20 books andcountless columns; the acclaimed RanaDasgupta, author of the short story collection Tokyo Cancelled, winner of the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize forBest Book for Soloand a nominee forthe Orwell and Ondaatje Prizes in 2015 for Capital; Amitabha Bagchi, author of therecent Half the Night is Goneand anominee of the Dublin IMPAC Literary Prize 2015 for This Place, Professor of English at Vassar College and a GuggenheimFellow, Amitava Kumar whose latestwork, Immigrant, Montana: A Novel, isan erotic and enigmatic exploration of the quintessential immigrant psyche; Anita Nair, Sahitya Akademi awardeeandcelebrated author, playwright and poet of The Better Man, Ladies Coupé,Mistress, Lessons in Forgetting, Idris: Keeper of the Light, Malabar Mind,among others; and New York Times &Guardian columnist, BBC presenter of the popular radio show Museum of Lost Objects and much feteddebutante novelist Kanishk Tharoor, authorof Swimmer Among the Stars, which wasnamed the Guardian and NPR Best Book of the Year.

So, get ready for the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival with the inspiring speakers !

Rajasthan Tourism Beat’s parallel venture Jaipur Beat gets candid with one of the greatest Indian folk & Sufi Music artists of India – Kailash Kher !
Watch him talk about music, love, passion & his special connection with Jaipur before his performance at JLF Music Stage 2018 at Hotel Clarks Amer .

Following Kailash Kher we have English singer-songwriter David Gray who talked about his music, passion & his first gig performance in India !
David Gray also performed at JLF Music Stage 2018 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur .

It’s not the Foucault’s Pendulum we are known for, we have the incredible Jantar -Mantar, the largest in the country. As you get knee deep into the Maha-Kumbh of Literature & music, there is a reason its setting could be none other than the beautiful Pink City. The capital of music, culture, literature and art, Jaipur is the home of ‘Lekhaki, Kalakaari and the Kaarigari‘. The quiet & the solitude that this city can offer contrasts with the bursts of colors, its long winding bylanes of history, the languid green hills, placid water bodies, the intricately carved architecture, soulful rustic music and over 1000 temples, it is aptly called the ‘Paris of the east’ and ‘Choti Kashi’ in the same breath.

You are now in the middle of this beauty as it’s a long weekend and the entire world is rushing to inhale the gyaan, literature, music at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival in the city. To avoid the confusions and dilemma, here are some quick hacks for you while you eat, shop, drink, & breathe in the pink city 🙂

The picture perfect postcards of Hawa Mahal, Amer fort, the old city, and the gorgeous Jal Mahal have described Jaipur for ages. We bring you some of the lesser known yet exquisite places to see in Jaipur.

Ghat ki Ghuni Complex:Sisodia Rani Bagh+Vidhyadhar Ka Bagh

It is located 8 kilometers from Jaipur on the Agra road. Laid out in Mughal style, it is painted with the legends of Radha and Krishna. The garden is multi-tiered and has fountains, watercourses, and painted pavilions. Vidhyadhar Ka Bagh, the Architect of Jaipur is also abutting this complex.

Galtaji:

Galtaji is an ancient pilgrimage center in Jaipur. Set amidst low hills and packed with locals and tourists alike, the attractive spot has temples, pavilions, and holy Kunds.

Panna Mian Ka Kund:

Built in the 16th century, this 8 story Kund or Step well was used actively by the community around as a source of water, it was also the place of community gathering where people would come to chat, relax or swim in the cool waters.

Nahargarh Baoli:

Image courtesy google.

This stunning organic steps of this ‘Baoli’ are mesmerizing, to say the least. It is located inside Nahargarh fort where the song ‘Masti Ki Pathshala’ from the movie ‘Rang De Basanti ‘was shot.

Jantar-Mantar

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is considered to be the largest of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. It contains fourteen geometric devices, designed to measure time, track celestial bodies and observe the orbits of the planets around the sun.

Maharaniyon Ki Chattri

Image courtesy- google

This is a tomb/ Chhatri for the women belonging to Jaipur’s royal family and is located on the way to Amber fort. This crematorium has several exquisitely carved cenotaphs built to commemorate them. The magnificent beauty and the historical significance of Maharani ki Chhatri makes it one of the most visited tourist attractions in Jaipur.

Isar Lat :

Ishwar Lat, also known asSwarg Suliis a 60 feet high grand minaret in Jaipur. Also called ‘Swarg Suli‘ or ‘heaven piercing minaret’, this tower near TripoliaGate was built by Raja Ishwari Singh in 1749 A.D to commemorate a grand victory against his brother Madho Singh in the Bagru war. Ishwar Lat offers a breath-taking view of Jaipur.

Jawahar Kala Kendra:

Built by one of the most famous Indian Architects of India, Charles Correa, it is an art & cultural center based on the 9 square ‘Vastu Purusha Mandala’ that Jaipur’s walled city plan is based on. Do try the Daal-Baati at their ‘Padharo Sa‘ restaurant.

City palace:

The City Palace is a splendid example of the foresight that Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II had. As the founder of Jaipur, he took pains to create a magnificent walled city that encloses marvels such as the City Palace. The palace is a beautiful blend of Mughal and Rajput styles of architecture.

Govind dev Ji temple.

The Krishna temple is a rare spireless temple and houses the idol of Govind Devji that Sawai Jai Singh brought from Vrindavan. It is built in the style of Diwan-e-Khas or the court of the ruler as Sawai Raja Jai believed Govind dev Ji to be the ruler of the city & he his instrument. It is based on ‘Bhakti style’of architecture with wide corridors all around.

EAT, what Jaipur eats – The historical notes in the ‘ruaab’ of Jaipur:

Laxmi Mishtan Bhandar, Johari BazaarFamous for its dahi bade, rasgulle, rasmalai, and especially paneer ghevar, LMB is ready to serve you with whatsoever is on your list !

Mahaveer Rabri Bhandar, Chandpole:

Known for their Rabri, Mohanthaal, Bejar Ki roti and Aloo Pyaz ki Suzi.

Handi: (MI Road & Vaishali Nagar)

One of the older award winning restaurants of Jaipur. Number one recommendation for Rajasthani non-vegetarian food. Try the Laal Maas, Junglee Maasor the famous Handi Maasfrom their menu.

Once upon a time: (Nahargarh Fort):

The most romantic and incredible view of the Jaipur City as you dine in an ambiance of bygone times.

The Forresta Kitchen & Bar, Bani Park

Located in Bani Park, The Forresta Kitchen & Bar boasts of a fresh green ambiance along with a rich array of drinks and a scrumptious variety of cuisines. Try Keema Baati and Italian food for the best experience ever.

Tapri (C- Scheme):

It’s a ‘Chai shop’ with a difference.With all things Chai and delicious light snacks, it’s ideal for breakfast or evening tea.

Muslim Musafir Khana :

It completely reminds one of Karim’s at Jama Masjid, Delhi in its ambiance. The food is delicious, affordable and unforgettable and the flavors are very different from Karim’s, Delhi.

Tattoo Cafe:

A fairly new restaurant in town, it is located bang opposite Hawa Mahal and is a good choice for breakfast or a cup of coffee. The view of Hawa Mahal early morning as the sun lights up the beautiful monument is priceless and the bonus as the name suggests, get awesome tattoos here. Instagram Alert!

At a mere ten-minute walk through the cobbled streets of Amber lies the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. Located in a magnificently restored haveli (mansion), the museum displays a varied selection of block-printed textiles alongside images, tools and related objects – all chosen to provide an in-depth look into the complexity of this ancient tradition.

With a fresh international take on Jaipur hand-block printing, Mayori clothing amalgamates the traditional printing techniques with modern silhouettes and creates beautiful garments with 100% cotton and a soothing palette of pastels. if you’re a cotton aficionado, explore trendy chic clothing at Mayori.

One of the oldest and the most well-known Blue Pottery studios, it was started by Late Shri Kirpal Singh Shekhawat known as the founder of Blue pottery. they are known for their incomparable quality.

Chameliwala Silver Market, MI Road.

The silver market just abutting MI Road is a silver haven. You can pick up semi-precious stones, get them dressed and have them inlaid in silver.Apart from that there is meenakari work on Silver, traditional, contemporary and tribal silver jewelry is available in a huge variety.

Take Back some memories & a little something more

Rajasthali:A Rajasthan government-run emporium which also features works of Bangladeshi designer Bibi Russell. Apart from creative and unique items crafted by rural artisans,you will find exclusive designer collection for men and women.

Jagmohan/ Chandrahas / Kesar Kasturi: the incredible royal liquors of Rajasthan.Infused with many spices and condiments, these come in the category of collectibles.

Air: Jaipur International Airport connects Jaipur to all major cities in the country as well as major international destinations. The capital of India, New Delhi is merely 250 Km from Jaipur. If you cannot get a direct flight to Jaipur, get one to Delhi as there are multiple daily connections between the two cities. The easiest way is to go to makemytrip.com or yatra.com and book your flights.

Rail: Jaipur Junction is a well-connected station with trains from all across the country. The easiest way to travel from Delhi is by the Double Decker train or Rajdhani.To book your train tickets, click here

Road: There are many Public and private operators of Buses as well as taxis in the city. Rajasthan government run RSRTC is a very good option or try the private operators for traveling to and from the Jaipur.

Getting around Jaipur: It is mostly a square.

Taxis: Uber or Ola: There are plenty of Uber and Ola Cabs easily available for within the city travel through the phone apps. They are the safest, fastest and most reasonably priced mode of transport. For Intercity travel Hippocabs is providing an exclusive for the JLF.Rajputana cabs.You also have an option of using Rajasthan government run taxis for within and outside city tours.

Rickshaws: E/Cycle /Auto: There are plenty of Rickshaws in the city be it e-rickshaws, cycle (shorter distances) or auto rickshaws. They easily navigate the city through the traffic be it the old or the new city. They are available 24 X 7 and outside most hotels and public places. Negotiate & settle the fare before taking the ride as they don’t use meters. Use google maps whenever in doubt.

Buses:Low Floor buses / Jaipur Safari / Pink Pepper. The comfortable seating, a wide network of bus stands & the low prices of the government run low floor buses make it an ideal companion to travel around the city. The city also offers interesting open air private tour buses to savor the beautiful scenic view the city provides. Click to book Jaipur safari for ‘Jaipur by the night’ tour or the day Safari tour. You can also ride the Pink Pepper buses which doubles up as a restaurant.

Metro: If you are located anywhere between Mansarover or Chand pole, take the Metro to get to JLF. The nearest Metro stations to the Diggi Palace, the venue for JLF, are Sindhi Camp Station and Jaipur Railways station. From outside the metro stations, take Rickshaws or cabs as convenient.To check the route, fares, and stops, click here.

Take this slice of Jaipur back with you in these few days of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Who knows, once you fall in love with the city, the next time you return back here not in the audience but right up on the stage.

The Literati ‘Maha Kumbh’ of our times in its 10th year brings in the confluence of Music and prose like never before. Prepare to be blown away by an eclectic mix of talent that has descended in the historic and beautiful ‘Pink city’. There truly couldn’t be a more apt setting to this high octane yet soulful unraveling of the most incredible Literature festival on earth.

Here is a lowdown on JLF- the musical just for you. Plan your days for JLF so that you don’t miss out on any of the incredible events!

19th January 2017

9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns

Shillong chamber Choir :After Winning India’s got talent, this talented group went on to win 3 gold medals at the World Choir games. Equally adept at Western Classical, Hit-rock, Khasi folk Music and opera, they are indeed a treat to watch.

Nathu Lal Solanki : He hails from the legendary ‘Pushkar Sangeet Gharana.This master percussionist and his Nagara are a part of Rajasthan’s musical heritage. He is a master of ‘Kuchmani Khayal’ and his performances are mesmerizing and unforgettable.

7.30-9.45 PM / Clarks Amer

RajasthanJosh : Who doesn’t know Chugge Khan and band, also called Rajasthan Josh. They fill in this incredible space which brings together Rajasthani, Punjabi and Sufi influences of Music together.They come from the tradition of ‘Bhakti’ and ‘Sufi’ wherein the each musical piece is a guftagoo of deep divine love between the almighty & the mortal soul.

Kabir Cafe : Neeraj Arya will be the Voice of Kabir. Over last 8 years, he has taken his poetry across the country. Mir mukhtiyar and Prahald Tipanya and their folk music together with poetry of Arya is Kabir Cafe.

20th January 2017

9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns

Swanand Kirkire : The multi-talented writer, poet, lyricist, actor, music director, singer and theater personality is here at JLF. You have heard him on Coke-studio and Dewarist, collaborating with Zeb and Haniya on the exceedingly soulful ‘Kaho Kya Khayal Hai ?, you have heard his ‘Bande Mein Tha Dum’ from Munnabhai MBBS, ‘Behti Hawa sa tha woh’ from 3-Idiots and ‘Manjha’ from ‘Kai Po che’. You can’t give him a miss.

Ankur Tiwari & Ghalat Family: He is a playback singer and Music-director from the Indian music industry. Through his 10 year journey from a hotel trainee to music can be nothing but a story of passion. He is actually a storyteller who is just narrating his beautiful simple stories through music.you have heard his ‘Galliyan’ from Ek Tha Villian, ‘O-Yara’ from Bin roye‘ and ‘Sun raha hai na tu’ from Aashiqui -2.

7.30-9.45 PM / Clarks Amer

Bombay Bassment : The first Indian hip-hop band to perform at the prestigious ‘Glastonbury’ , members of Bombay Bassment are two Goans, one Mumbaiker, and one Kenyan. Together, Levin Mendes (drums), Ruel Barretto ( bass), Chandrashekhar Kunder and Bob Omulo aka MC Bobkat make tunes that brings together hip hop, drum ‘n’ bass, and elements of funk and reggae.

Inna Modja : she is a Malian-french singer.With hits like Mr H, La File Du Lido and French Cancan. She is a singer and song writer who expresses her music based on Motown Soul, Sahel Desert Blues, Mandinka guitars and Kora meets hip-hop.

7.30 / Ganesh Pole, Amer Fort

Rhythm and Rhyme : will be an evening of poetry readings held at Amber Fort, Jaipur on Friday, 20th January at 7.30 PM. Bringing together voices from two sides of the globe, the session will witness readings by celebrated American poet Anne Waldman and the renowned Bollywood lyricist Swanand Kirkire. This will be followed by Sarod Recital by Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan at the Amber Fort.

21st January 2017

9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns

Padmini Rao : Classical Singer Padmini Rao has quite a lineage. From the North Indian Classical Gharana of Kirana‘, she has trained under ‘Padmabhushan’ Dr Prabha. She has learnt Sitar from ‘Padmini Dagar’ and Drupad & Veena from Diwangat Maestro Zia Moinuddin KhanDagar‘.

7.30-9.45 PM / Clarks Amer

Soulmate : Inspired by the roots and groove sounds of the Blues, Blues-rock, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, funk and R&B, Soulmate was formed when Rudy Wallang and Tipriti Kharbangar decided to form a band dedicated to spreading awareness about the Blues genre.

Beth Orton & Sam Amidon : Beth Orton is a singer and songwriter who has released six trailblazing albums, including the BRIT Award-winning Central Reservation, and 2012’s ‘Sugaring Season’, which Vogue described as ‘a beautiful and timely album, filled with melancholy’. Sam Amidon is a singer/banjoist/fiddler/guitarist originally from Brattleboro, Vermont. He has released five acclaimed albums of radically reimagined folksongs on the Bedroom Community and Nonesuch labels, most recently 2014’s Lily-O.

Mujra se Multiplex tak : will take the audience on a journey through the magical realm of entertainment at Hawa Mahal. Coursing through the ever changing world of cultural entertainment, the session will explore how the audiences at entertainment venues have evolved over the years. Writer and musician Vidya Shah will reflect on these changes through song while actor Luke Kenny punctuates them with poignant poetry and quirky banter.

22nd January 20179.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns

Debashish Day : He is a classical singer specialising in Thumri, Dadra, Thappa , Chaiti and Kajri. He is also well known for his Bhajan style of singing.

7.00-10.00 PM / Clarks Amer

Lisa Hannigan : Lisa Hannigan’s haunting voice has featured on soundtracks for TV series Fargo and Oscar-winning Gravity and she has collaborated with artists as diverse as Ray LaMontagne, Richard Hawley and Herbie Hancock. Her new album At Swim is her most bewitching yet.

Aga Khan All Stars : Aga Khan Music Initiative, a programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, is an inter-regional music and arts education programme to preserve, transmit and develop musical heritage in contemporary forms. The Aga Khan Music Initiative Ensemble brings together the Initiative’s leading artists and AKTC’s collaborators of the past fifteen years. These master musicians are not only brilliant performers, but also pioneering composers, arrangers, improvisers, teachers, and mentors. They bring all of these talents and abilities to bear on their work with the Aga Khan Music Initiative, drawing inspiration from the past to create new music, and playing an active role in the Music Initiative’s education programme. Homayoun Sakhi on the Afghan rubab, Wu Man on the pipa, Saxophonist and composer Basel Rajoub, Salar Nader on tabla, Andrea Piccioni on single-headed frame drums, and qanun player Feras Charestan. The Ensemble will perform a newly created repertoire of compositions, improvisations and contemporary arrangements inspired by tradition.

Raghu Dixit : Their infectious, happy music transcends age, genre and language. From playing to over 100,000 people in Karnataka, to Glastonbury and even playing for the Queen of England, Dixit has done it all! Have a great time to their earthy, rooted, vibrant yet simple fun.

23rd January 2017

9.15 AM / Diggi Palace, Front Lawns

East meets Middle East : It’s a confluence of MiddleEast and South Asian Musical heritage. Subrat bhattacharya (Tabla), Abhishek Lohiri (Sitar), Rony Maili on Barbat and George on the percussion. They will dissolve boundaries as their music will bring together North African, Middle eastern and South Asian nuances of music.

So go ahead, book your tickets here and spend your evening in the company of the musical greats that India and the world is here to offer at JLF.

The Zee Jaipur Literature Festival is just a couple of days away (19-23 January 2017), and you are one of those who don’t want to miss any important reading, interview session at any cost. So, here’s a list of all the sessions including cultural and musical evenings at Diggi Palace, Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal and other venues . Enjoy 🙂

As we are already excited about the Jaipur Literature Festival, which will host some of the most renowned literary heavyweights, an announcement on Friday about two “Heritage Evenings” is all set to raise the bar of the event to a new level. Rajasthan Tourism has collaborated with the Literature Festival this year to showcase poetry and music against the backdrop of two of Jaipur’s heritage monuments — the Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal on January 20 and 21.

Replicating an “East meets West” scenario, the celebrated American poet Anne Waldman and polular Bollywood lyricist Swanand Kirkire will mesmerize visitors with their readings in a session named “Rhythm and Rhyme.” This evening of poetry readings will be held at Amber Fort on January 20 and will bring voices from two sides of the globe, followed by a sarod Recital by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour.

“Mujre Se Multiplex Tak,” will take the audience on a journey through the magical realm of entertainment at Hawa Mahal on the following evening.

Writer and musician Vidya Shah will reflect on these changes through song while actor Luke Kenny punctuates them with poignant poetry and quirky banter.

“With the support of Rajasthan Tourism, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival will celebrate the wonderful cultural and architectural heritage of the city of Jaipur through the Festival’s Heritage Evenings! The exclusively curate evenings will offer an experience that uniquely places cultural performances within the context of the city’s built heritage and allows audiences to engage with these significant places in a new dimension.

This year’s list of speakers at the lit fest sees a host of Man Booker winners and nominees check out whom to listen in our next blog!